The Boston Red Sox dodged a couple of bullets when shortstop Jed Lowrie collided with left fielder Carl Crawford in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader at Detroit.

The first bullet, of course, was the one the Sox would have taken had this been an Adrian Beltre-Jacoby Ellsbury collision. It wasn’t that serious, and although Lowrie didn’t start Game 2 or the first game of Monday’s homestand-opener with the White Sox, he’s expected back tonight.

“On that little popup he got clipped,” said manager Terry Francona before his team’s 7-3 loss to the White Sox. “Left shoulder’s just kind of sore yesterday, stiff today. Thought about playing him. We kind of went back and forth like, ‘Let’s see if this thing loosens up,’ and because we’re not taking BP on the field and it’s a late arrival, it was like, ‘Y’know what? Why don’t we just let you hit in the cage and as the day progresses if you feel good maybe we’ll pinch hit you. If we don’t then it’s a good thing we stayed away.’

“This is nothing. He’ll play (Tuesday) and he probably could play today. The more I started talking to him I thought we’re gonna use our heads here.”

“Just ran into each other,” Lowrie said. “We looked at it. It’s fine. Just stiff. It looks bad because we played a doubleheader, so it’s one of those things. I imagine it should be good to go tomorrow. I’m gonna see how it feels. I think it’s one of those things I need to see how it’s moving.

The second bullet the Sox dodged? With Marco Scutaro already out of action with an oblique strain, the Sox have received a productive defensive performance from Drew Sutton, who’d been called up from Pawtucket.

Around the bases

Bobby Jenks, out since May 2 with a right bicep strain, is scheduled to return tonight. “He feels fine.” Jenks threw an inning and gave up a run for Pawtucket Sunday, but is otherwise OK. “Velocity was good,” said Francona. “Didn’t hold a runner, which happens sometimes but all indications are that it’s a good thing he went because he shook a little bit of rust off even by his own opinion and now he’ll come back and help us.” … Newly acquired reliever Franklin Morales, on the DL with a left forearm strain, had an MRI Monday morning … Asked if the results of the MRI were in, Francona said, “It’s Labor Day or whatever it is. We’re wearing silly hats. I know its something.” … J.D. Drew batted in the eighth position Monday, the fifth time he’s done so … After taking an Adrian Gonzalez liner off the right hip in the eighth inning, White Sox reliever Jesse Crain chased down the ball and still threw him out at first base …

Page 2 of 2 - White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen defended himself over criticism that he had laid into White Sox fans, when he had actually been talked about radio hosts. “Well, they made me feel like I’m a crazy person,” Guillen said. “I’m not a crazy person, I’m an outspoken person. I’m not crazy. I know what I say, I know what I do. In the past when I make mistakes, I face it like a man.” Guillen also said he would prefer to voice comments directly through the media, where microphones and cameras are omnipresent, rather than through Twitter, which has landed him in hot water in the past … John Lackey, who hasn’t pitched since May 11 with a strained right elbow, will make a rehab appearance at Pawtucket today … Jason Varitek, who didn’t start Monday, was wearing camouflaged gear that was to be auctioned off for the Home Base Program for disabled vets … The Red Sox were putting out a Tweet Poll asking fans if they wanted to change Saturday’s game time from 7:10 to 1:10 because of the Bruins evening contest in Vancouver.